Sarlat's markets, hilltop villages, castles and hanging gardens: the Périgord Noir, 30 minutes downstream from Souillac.
Following the Dordogne downstream from Souillac, you enter the Périgord Noir: Sarlat and its medieval centre, then a string of listed villages, castles facing each other across the river and gardens suspended above the water.
Everything lies between 30 and 50 minutes from the villa. One day is enough for Sarlat and one village, two to enjoy the valley without rushing.
Cobbled lanes, grand townhouses, honey-coloured stone façades: Sarlat's medieval and Renaissance centre was one of the first protected historic districts in France, created under the Malraux law.
On Wednesday mornings and Saturdays, the old town fills with stalls: on Saturdays, local produce in the morning and craftspeople all day. The covered market is housed in the former Église Sainte-Marie.
In winter, don't miss the truffle market.
Tourist office (opens in a new tab)Three villages listed among the Plus Beaux Villages de France (the most beautiful villages of France) follow one another over a few kilometres, between cliffs and river.
A royal bastide (fortified town) founded in 1281, perched on its cliff. From the Belvédère de la Barre, the view takes in the whole valley, some 150 metres below.
Honey-coloured houses pressed between the cliff and the Dordogne, and a troglodyte fort carved into the rock above the village.
The village climbs up beneath a 12th-century château standing on the clifftop. Trips aboard gabarres, the traditional Dordogne boats, leave from the waterside.
More than 6 km of paths among 150,000 hand-clipped, century-old box trees, leading to a viewpoint on a rocky spur overlooking the valley.
In summer, candlelit evenings are held on Thursdays.
A fortress facing Beynac, home to the Museum of Medieval Warfare: weapons, armour and reconstructed siege engines such as the trebuchet. A real hit with children.
Open every day, all year round.
Official website (opens in a new tab)Half an hour north of Sarlat, the complete replica of the Lascaux cave, closed to the public since 1963. A visit in its own right, worth half a day.
Book a time slot online, especially in summer.
Official website (opens in a new tab)Information checked on 15 Oct 2026. Opening hours and access conditions change with the seasons: check each site's official website before setting off.
Your base
A 4-bedroom villa for 8 guests with a private pool and enclosed garden in Souillac: the town centre on foot, and every outing in this guide within a day trip by car.